Ring binder mechanism

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a ring binder mechanism for housing perforated documents. The ring binder mechanism comprises a housing ( 10 ) with spring elastically flexible housing flanks ( 28 ). Two carrier rails ( 20 ) are arranged within the housing ( 10 ), which may be pivoted towards each other by the spring action of the housing flanks ( 28 ) in the manner of an elbow joint in the region of the longitudinal edges thereof which face each other. At least two half rings ( 16 ), which pair-wise form a ring ( 14 ), are rigidly connected to the support rails ( 20 ) at defined longitudinal separations from each other. At least two locking elements ( 32 ), operated by means of an actuating element ( 18 ) and a tie rod ( 44 ), are further provided, which engage in a free space ( 34 ), formed between the carrier rails ( 20 ) and a housing wall ( 13 ), in the locked position, with locking of the pivoting movement of the carrier rails ( 20 ) and which release the pivoting path about the joint axis ( 22 ) in the opened state, whereby the locking elements ( 32 ) are pre-tensioned in the closing direction by the action of a closing spring ( 36 ). According to the invention, only one single tie rod ( 44 ) is provided, the tie rod comprising several dogs ( 201 ), each of which is provided for cooperating with one of the locking elements ( 32 ).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention concerns a ring binder mechanism with a housing having aC-shaped or U-shaped cross-section, with elastic mounting flanks whichcan be bent open for receiving two carrier rails, of which the inwardfacing longitudinal edges lie against each other forming a linkage axis,and of which the outward facing longitudinal edges engage in mountinggrooves of the mounting flanks, and with at least two half-rings rigidlyconnected with the carrier rail in a defined longitudinal separationfrom each other, extending through openings in a housing wall andpairwise forming themselves into a ring, wherein the carrier rails,taking along the half rings, are limitedly pivotable relative to eachother about the longitudinal pivot axis between an open position and aclosed position while overcoming the spring force produced by thebending open of the mounting flanks, and wherein at least two lockingelements are provided, activatable via an operating element and a tierod, which when in the locked position engage in a free space formedbetween the carrier rails and the housing wall thereby blocking thepivot movement of the carrier rails, and when in the open position freethe linkage axis to pivot, wherein the locking elements arepre-tensioned in the closed direction by a locking spring.

2. Related Art of the Invention

A ring binder mechanism of this type is known (WO 01/81099), in whicheach locking element is provided with a tie rod associated with theactuating element, each tie rod having an integrated locking spring. Thetie rod must accordingly be made of a springy material. Further to beconsidered is that, in the known ring binder mechanisms, in practicalembodiments with more than two rings, these are provided however withonly two locking elements. The use of more than two locking elements isdesirable, for example, in mechanisms with three or more rings, but thisis neither disclosed nor enabled.

Beginning therewith, it is the task of the present invention to improvethe ring binder mechanism of the type described in the introductorysection in such a manner that more than two locking elements can beemployed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For solving this task, the characteristics set forth in Patent Claim 1are proposed. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of theinvention can be seen from the dependent claims.

The inventive solution is comprised essentially therein, that the tierod includes multiple dogs (or catches or engagement elements or bends),each of which is respectively associated with one locking element.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tie rodis comprised of a piece of wire extending essentially parallel to thelinkage axes, wherein the dogs are bends or offsets on the tie rod.

Each locking element is preferably, provided with its own lockingspring, independent from the tie rod, wherein the locking spring may bein the form of a leg spring. For simplification of assembly, it isbasically also possible, that only one locking spring is provided,engaging the end of the tie rod opposite to the actuating element.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, eachlocking element includes a receptacle for one of the dogs of the tierod, via which it is in operative association therewith.

A further preferred embodiment of the invention envisions that at leastone of the locking elements is a pivot element, wherein the at least onelocking element is held pivotable on one of the two carrier rails and/oron the housing.

A ring binder mechanism with four rings can accordingly be equipped withfour locking elements, wherein the locking elements are mountedpivotably upon one of the two carrier rails and each locking element canbe associated with a locking spring in the form of a leg spring. Thelocking elements can be provided with wedge-shaped locking surfaces,which cooperate or engage with the carrier rails in the locked position.By the individual spring pressure of the locking elements in the closingdirection, it is advantageously achieved, that each locking element inthe closed position exercises an optimal closing force upon the carrierrails, which creates a high holding force on the rings.

When using only one locking spring on the end of the tie rod opposite tothe actuating element, the receptacles on the locking elements for thedogs of the tie rod must be so designed, that the pivotable ringelements can be pivoted by the dogs both in the opening direction aswell as in the closing direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following, the invention will be described in greater detail onthe basis of the embodiment shown in the figures. There is shown:

FIG. 1 a-c a side view, a top view and an end view of a ring bindermechanism with four rings in closed position;

FIG. 2 a-c a bottom view of the ring binder mechanism, an enlargedsection of FIG. 2 a and a section along line A-A of FIG. 2 a;

FIGS. 3 a and b a perspective representation of the ring bindermechanism from above and from below without housing;

FIGS. 3 c and d respectively an enlarged section in the area of thethird ring of FIGS. 3 a and b;

FIG. 4 a a perspective representation of the locking element in the formof a pivot element;

FIG. 4 b a section of the tie rod in the area of a dog in perspectiverepresentation;

FIG. 4 c a perspective representation of a section of the two carrierrails in the area of a ring in closed position;

FIG. 5 a a side view of the elements in operative engagement: operatingelement, tie rod and locking elements;

FIG. 5 b-c a top view and a side view of the tie rod;

FIG. 6 a-b two sectional representations of the ring binder mechanismaccording to FIG. 2 a in first and second phases of opening;

FIG. 7 a-b a perspective representation of the ring binder mechanism inopen position, as well as a detail A from FIG. 7 a;

FIG. 8 a-b a bottom view of the ring binder mechanism in perspectiverepresentation as well as detail B from FIG. 8 a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The binder ring mechanisms represented in the drawings are above allintended for receiving loose-leaf, holed sheets, for example, writingmaterial or printed products.

The binder ring mechanism is comprised essentially of a housing,multiple half-rings 16 provided longitudinally spaced from each otherand extending through openings 12 in the housing wall 13 and pairwiseforming a ring 14 with complementary half-rings, as well as an operatinglever 18 for opening and closing the rings. Each of the half-rings 16 ofone of the rings 14 is rigidly secured to one of the two carrier rails20, which on their inward edges—the longitudinal edges facing eachother—lie against each other thereby forming a linkage axis 22, andwhich with their outer edges—the longitudinal edges 24 facing away fromeach other—engage in inward facing mounting grooves 26 stamped into thehousing flanks 28. The carrier rails 20 are introduced into the housingin such a manner, that they can assume two detent positions, one openand one closed. The housing functions as a spring element, which retainsthe half-rings 16 in their open position and in their closed position.The carrier rails 20 thereby have the function of an elbow lever springtensioned on the outer edges 24. Therewith, the carrier rails 20 can belimitedly pivoted against each other about their linkage axis 22, takingalong the half-rings 16 between the open position and the closedposition by overcoming the spring force produced by the bending apart ofthe housing flanks 28.

In addition, in the illustrative embodiment each ring 14 is providedwith a locking element 32 pivotable relative to the housing 10 and tothe carrier rails 20, which in the closed position projects into thefree space 34 formed between the carrier rails 20 and the housing wall13 with blocking of the pivot path of the carrier rails 20 and in theopen position frees the pivot path about the linkage axes 22. In theillustrative embodiment, each locking element 32 in the form of a pivotelement is associated with its own locking spring 36.

One special feature of the invention is comprised therein, that alllocking elements 32 are operated via a common tie rod 44. The tie rod44, here in the form of a piece of wire, exhibits for this purpose fourdogs 201, each of which are respectively associated with one lockingelement 32. The locking elements 32 in the form of pivot elements aresupplementally acted upon in the locking direction by the force of aclosing spring 36 (FIGS. 2 a and 2 b). The closing springs 36 are in theform of leg springs, of which the flanks are supported on the one sideagainst the housing flank 28 and on the other side against the lockingelement 32 (FIG. 2 b). The locking element 32 exhibits for this purposea spike 204 for the reception of the locking spring 36. In an operatingposition, the locking element 32 is, besides this, also held pivotablyby a projection along the axis 205 in a bearing receptacle 206 on one ofthe carrier rails 20 (FIGS. 3 d and 4 a). On the locking element 32,there is further provided a receptacle 203 for the associated dog 102 ofthe tie rod 44. In the illustrated embodiment the dogs 201 are designedas bends or offsets 202 on the tie rod 44. In order that the dogs 201are also secured in the transverse direction against sliding out, anabutment plate 207 is formed on the respective locking elements 32 (seeFIG. 4 a).

The locking elements 32 are pre-tensioned under the influence of theassociated locking springs 36 in the direction of the locking position(see FIGS. 3 a through 3 d). The opening of the rings 14 occurs bydisplacement or sliding of the tie rod 44 in its longitudinal direction,wherein the actuating lever 18 is depressed. Therein, the lockingelements 32 are pivoted against the force of the closing springs 36about the axis 205 relative to the carrier rails 20 in their openposition. The locking element 32 penetrates or extends thereby into theguide through-hole 54 and frees the carrier rails 20 for movement abouttheir pivot axis 22 (represented in dashed lines in FIG. 2 b). In thecourse of the opening process, upon further depressing of the actuatingelement 18, an opening outrigger or prong 40 formed on the actuatingelement extends from below against the carrier rails 20 and pressesthese upwards thereby overcoming the spring force produced by thehousing flanks 28, until the carrier rails 20 abut against the housingwall 13. Thereby, the half rings 16 are pivoted in their open position.

During the closing process, the actuating element 18 is pressed upwards.Thereby, the carrier rails 20 are pivoted downwards by the closingoutrigger or prong 42 about their linkage axis 22 overcoming the springforce produced by the housing flanks 28 past the locking elements 32,until the free space 34 results. In the last phase of the closingprocess, the locking elements 32 are displaced under the influence ofthe closing springs 36 and, with taking along the tie rod 44 and theactuating lever 18, automatically into their locking position (FIGS. 3 athrough 3 d). For further disclosure, in this context, reference is madeto the embodiments in WO 01/81099.

The kinematic chain, which is responsible for the release, or as thecase may be, the locking of the carrier rails 20, is comprisedaccordingly of the following elements: actuating element 18, tie rod 44,four locking elements 32 with locking springs 36.

The invention was explained above on the basis of an illustrativeembodiment, in which each individual locking element 32 is provided witha locking spring 36. It is basically possible, that the tie rod 44 withits dogs 202, both in the locking direction as well as in the openingdirection, is form-fittingly coupled with the locking elements 32 in theform of pivot elements. Thus, there is the possibility that only onelocking spring is provided pre-tensioned in the locking direction andengaging against the tie rod 44. Thereby, the expense of assemblyassociated with the insertion of the locking elements 32 and the lockingspring is reduced, without having to accept any functionaldisadvantages.

The invention further concerns a binder with a ring binder mechanism ofthe above-described type provided on the spine or back.

1. A ring binder mechanism comprising: a housing (10) having a C- orU-shaped cross-section with spring-elastic bendable flanks (28), twocarrier rails (20), which carrier rails on their inward facinglongitudinal edges lie against each other forming a linkage axis (22)and with their outward facing longitudinal edges (24) engage in mountinggrooves (26) in the housing flanks (28), and with at least twohalf-rings (16) longitudinally spaced apart from each other and rigidlyconnected with the carrier rails (20), which half-rings extend throughopenings (12) in a housing wall (13) and pairwise form a ring (14),wherein the carrier rails (20) are limitedly pivotable relative to eachother about the linkage axis (22) between an open position and a closedposition upon overcoming the spring forced produced by the bending openof the housing flanks (28), while taking along the half-rings (16), andwherein at least two locking elements (32) are provided to be operablevia an actuating element (18) and a tie rod (44) which locking elements,in the closed position, protrude into a free space (34) formed betweenthe carrier rails (20) and the housing wall (13) blocking the pivotmovement of the carrier rails (20) and, in the open position, free thepivot movement of the carrier rails (20) about the linkage axis (22),wherein the locking elements (32) are pre-tensioned in the direction ofthe closed position under the influence of a closing spring (36), andwherein the tie rod (44) includes a number of engaging elements,preferably dogs (210), each of which respectively being associated withone of the locking elements (32).
 2. The ring binder mechanism accordingto claim 1, wherein the tie rod (44) is a piece of wire extendingessentially parallel to the linkage axis.
 3. The ring binder mechanismaccording to claim 1, wherein the dogs (201) are bends or offsets (202)on the tie rod (44).
 4. The ring binder mechanism according to claim 1,wherein each ring element (32) is provided with its own locking spring(36) independent of the tie rod (44).
 5. The ring binder mechanismaccording to claim 4, wherein the locking springs (36) are leg springs.6. The ring binder mechanism according to claim 1, wherein only onelocking spring (36) is provided, namely engaging the end of the tie rod(44) opposite to the actuating element (18).
 7. The ring bindermechanism according to claim 1, wherein each locking element (32)includes a receptacle (203) for the corresponding dog (201) of the tierod (44) and is in operative association therewith.
 8. The ring bindermechanism according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the lockingelements (32) is a pivot element.
 9. The ring binder mechanism accordingto claim 8, wherein at least one locking element (32) is held pivotablyon one of the two carrier rails (20) and/or on the housing (10).
 10. Abinder with a ring binder mechanism comprising: a housing (10) having aC- or U-shaped cross-section with spring-elastic bendable flanks (28),two carrier rails (20), which carrier rails on their inward facinglongitudinal edges lie against each other forming a linkage axis (22),their outward facing longitudinal edges (24) engage in mounting grooves(26) in the housing flanks (28), at least two half-rings (16)longitudinally spaced apart from each other and rigidly connected withthe carrier rails (20), which half-rings extend through openings (12) ina housing wall (13) and pairwise form a ring (14), wherein the carrierrails (20) are limitedly pivotable relative to each other about thelinkage axis (22) between an open position and a closed position uponovercoming the spring forced produced by the bending open of the housingflanks (28), while taking along the half-rings (16), and wherein atleast two locking elements (32) are provided to be operable via anactuating element (18) and a tie rod (44) which locking elements, in theclosed position, protrude into a free space (34) formed between thecarrier rails (20) and the housing wall (13) blocking the pivot movementof the carrier rails (20) and, in the open position, free the pivotmovement of the carrier rails (20) about the linkage axis (22), whereinthe locking elements (32) are pre-tensioned in the direction of theclosed position under the influence of a closing spring (36), andwherein the tie rod (44) includes a number of engaging elements,preferably dogs (210), each of which respectively being associated withone of the locking elements (32).